Hi Janice,
Oh boy, this makes me so happy to hEAR you will be sailing to
Alaska! My family and I couldn't wait to set foot onboard the Disney Wonder for our Alaskan itinerary. You and your granddaughters are going to have the best time and make some magical memories together!
As far as Alaskan-themed events, the first one that pops to mind is the Alaska Naturalist Presentation. Naturalists onboard provide heads up information on all the scenery and wildlife about to be encountered. These seminars made me even more excited about our upcoming glacier visit and the subsequent days in our ports (Skagway, Juneau, and Ketchikan). While viewing Dawes Glacier, the naturalist even makes a presentation over the intercom system pointing out all the nature and wildlife surrounding the ship. Brace yourselves for the jaw dropping experience of seeing a glacier fall into the water called "calving." It's truly an adrenaline rush!
Guess what? Captain Mickey and his crew are not the only characters at sea! On our Alaska cruise, we were told we might see porpoises, dolphins, harbor seals, sea lions, bald eagles, mountain goats, bears, wolves, and whales. After hearing this, I couldn’t wait to get out there and start looking! Hint: Add binoculars to your
packing list-you won't regret it.
Since you are sailing in 2021, activities and entertainment onboard are subject to change. But I can tell you that the
Frozen Deck Party is lots of fun and really gets Guests into the arctic spirit. We watched in awe as puppets and actors graced the stage in Walt Disney Theater for the stunning production of "Frozen, A Musical Spectacular." The best way to keep tabs on all the events onboard is with the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app or the Personal Navigator newsletter that comes daily in your stateroom.
Character meet and greets in Alaska are quite possibly the best ones we've had on a Disney cruise. The characters are decked out in Alaskan-themed outfits like Donald in his lumberjack plaid and Mickey in his fishing gear. Many of the
Character Greetings take place outside on deck with snow-capped mountains and glaciers as background. They make for the most amazing shots, so make sure you get some made with you and your granddaughters.
Finally, I cannot talk about an Alaska cruise without mentioning the great assortment of
Port Adventures available. It makes it tough choosing between them because they all offer so many diverse experiences. At the time we sailed Alaska, my kids were 15 and 11, and I can tell you our family favorites were kayaking and the
White Pass Scenic Railway in Skagway, the Mendenhall Glacier in Juneau, and the
Bering Sea Crab Fishermen's Tour in Ketchikan.
Janice, this is only the tip of the iceberg! As you continue planning, please cruise back by if you have any additional questions. Wishing you a WONDERful adventure in Alaska!
Happy Sailing!
Sherry